GREETINGS FROM A NEW MENBER & IDEAS FOR THE ATMOSPHERE IN ISLAND ON

And just last night I was reading a study from 1978 that stated something
to the effect that filter paper burned twice as fast in a pure O2
atmosphere at 0.2 bar than in does at 1 bar with 21% O2/79% N2. That is,
even though the partial pressure of O2 is the same in both experiments,
flammability was greatly enhanced by lack of the N2 dilutent.

(The article also went on to state that using helium as a dilutent might
have some advantages for space habitats (e.g., less dense than N2, doesn'
boil out of the blood when you have to do an EVA. The article also stated,
curiously, that Skylab astronauts were often hoarse from shouting at one
another because sound did not travel well in the reduced-pressure
atmosphere used on Skylab. )

Most amusingly, the article talked about the 60 flight per year rate that
the Shuttle was going to achieve, the emplacement of a Lunar mass driver by
1986, and the delivery of an SPS by 1991 !

Ron Menich

hollroa@...
Please respond to THE AT MOSPHERE IN ISLAND ONE
ssi_list

High O2 atmospheres result in increased arterial pressure and can lead to
necrosis of the Heart and enhanced possibility of stroke. When red blood
cells become saturated with O2, they bloat to many times their normal size.
What ever we choose to breath, it might be wise if we keep the O2 partial
pressure close to Earth normal. My Wife did her end of degree dissertation
on the effects of microgravity and high O2 atmospheres. Demineralisation
effects due to microgravity can apparently be countered using high
frequency vibrations on the bones. High O2 atmospheres are bad news all
around, unfortunately. Increased arterial pressure can have some very
negative health effects. Brain haemorrhages would be much more common in
higher O2 atmospheres. Nasty......

>>>Are we uncomfortably warm at room temperature due to reduced heat flow
away from the body?>>>

Increased evaporation of perspired sweat might counter this effect.

Tony